Another Walmart Rant "FISHING"

[PierBridge]

Low and behold after waiting 9 months for the Bloomington/Richfield Walmart on 494 and Portland to be remodeled into a Super Mega Walmart.

I had a strange feeling when I first walked through the door and looked at this huge monstrosity.

I glanced around and wondered where the hunting and Fishing department would be located and a sudden chill started to sink in... long story short there is NO hunting or FISHING department in the New Walmart...NONE/NADA!

I kind of suspected there wouldn't be a Hunting department but no fishing department is a major Buzz kill and unacceptable to me!

I know a lot of you hate and will not shop at Walmart for valid reasons but I always enjoyed stopping in late night and browsing for good deals on Hunting and Fishing items when they were a 24/7 store...

Rant over!...

[dirtking]

Walmart is my go to store for: trash bags, tooth paste, deoderant, TP, paper towels, ect.

Not for fishing or hunting stuff. I have bought a lot of shells there in years past for trap shooting - however

[DTro]

I truly have a love/hate relationship with Wal-Mart. I love the convenience and price, but hate going there.

I do like the fact that you can find one just about anywhere and 24hrs is a big plus for us nightowls.

I’m really surprised that they didn’t add an fishing/hunting dept (or is it just no fishing) at any rate, they have been a big sponsor of fishing events in the past (FLW tour) so it doesn’t make sense to me why they would drop it altogether. Especially weird not to have one in a MN store.

[cjac]

Here's a summary of the new store. They are really using this as a test store and protoytpe to capture sales and guest traffic in today's stagmant retail segment.

This is the 2nd High Efficiency store that Walmart has ever opened and the layout clearly reflects a heavily rationalized assortment, especially in discretionary categories.

Convenience is everything—this is the key message of this store and is called out to the customer on the visual map and articulated by the employees

Simplified shopping—less clutter and cleaner aisles

Easier choices—simplified assortments across the store, even in key brands

Time-saving services – drive-thru Rx and site to store pickup, vision center, money services, photo developing and DVD rental.

Soft Home, Stationary and Home Office, Crafts, Sports, Auto and Hardware were dramatically reduced from their former footage in this store.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Maybe location had something to do with it? Its very possible that location didn't meet expectations in that department. Business sense would say get rid of it and put something in the space that sells!

[Gary Crichton]

Your right Dtro. I take it they are NOT sponsers for them anymore. Lets see 10000 lakes and how many fisherpeople in the state plus tourist from out of state. Nah no reason I can see to put a fishing/hunting dept in.

[Shack]

I hear ya Jer, but feel for Pier. I hate change . Especially when I have found comfort in something for a long period of time.

Wal-Fart is limited on what I use for fishing, but has good pricing on regular sinkers, hooks, swivels and crawlers. Also husky jerk-baits and some other lures.

It sure is nice if something is needed late at night before a trip that they are open. Saved some headache on a couple trips for me.

[crothmeier]

i stopped into the Park Rapids one this weekend to pick up on specific fishing item, and low and behold they had one aisle of fishing items, in a new store, in a heavily "laked & tourist" area. the tiny old old walmart in Redwood Falls has more fishing/outdoor equipment than the super walmart in "lake country"

figure that one out.

[bobbymalone]

Lets see 10000 lakes and how many fisherpeople in the state plus tourist from out of state. Nah no reason I can see to put a fishing/hunting dept in.

Here is a reason not to put a fishing/hunting dept in, the gander down the road, the D I C K ' S sporting goods across the freeway, the 10000 other baitshops and whatnot around the state. WM is competing with target not gander.

Do you guys really think WM would toss the outdoor section if it was making money?

[nofishfisherman]

I am pretty sure Wal Mart is very aware of the profits generated by each department and each item in their stores. If fishing equipment was a good seller they would probably keep it in the store. In the metro area there are so many places dedicated solely to hunting and fishing (Gander, Joes,etc...) that I'm sure Wal Mart see just too much competition in that area.

In areas where Wal Mart doesn't see a lot of competition in fishing/hunting equipment sales they would likely carry more of that stuff in stores in those areas.

Really its pretty simple, if it sells it will likely be in the store, if it doesn't sell then its probably going to get cut out sooner or later.

[shizzy]

I work for Wally world and had the "great chance" to work a day there the week they opened. I was also NOT happy with the new store. Basically if you are in need of groceries, cleaning supplies or an RX its a great store. if you are looking for lots of stuff, then its a no go. There is also no Lawn and garden department, no live fish and no Tire lube express.

as aready stated its a concept store, they are trying to get in on cub/rainbow and super target's Grocery sales.

being it is a concept store I encourage you to complain about any shortcomings this store is giving you. they need to hear both good and bad.

http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx

[DTro]

Well I can totally see why they would want to “give it a go” as a concept store and see what results they see.

However, less competition is usually a bad thing for the consumer.

If this is the future plans of Wal-Mart, then Fleet Farm just blew them out of the water (FF was near the top for me already).

[bobbymalone]

Walmart is trying to shake the trailer park image, at least in areas where the average consumer is a wannabe yuppie.

[tunrevir]

Support the local baitshops where you fish and make some contacts there. Walmart is moving towards the projected market of shoppers: moms and kids. If you don't like the way they have things set up then tell them about what they lack instead of complaining about it. Marketing and market research determines where they go with things. If fishing and hunting goodies don't go out the door and groceries do they are going to market to the consumer that buys the groceries.

Tunrevir~

[PierBridge]

If this is the future plans of Wal-Mart, then Fleet Farm just blew them out of the water (FF was near the top for me already).

My problem is the nearest FF "mans mall" is 19 miles away as a matter of fact the 3 closest Fleets are all 19 or 20 miles away from me, weird.

I agree Fleet Farm blows Walmart away any-day and Sunday for Fishing and hunting!! It's almost a godsend there isn't one closer or I'd be broker than I already am!

I was assured by one of the store greeters at Wally that I could order any hunting/Fishing item through one of the in-store Kiosk's... ..doesn't sound fun and I'll pass on that option!

And to add insult to injury the New Wally now close's at 11pm sharp...DOH!

[Tom7227]

Another good reason to not do business with this company. They ruin the local economy by selling cheap stuff that they virtually force their suppliers into making. Stay with the local guys - it may cost a few bucks more but they provide jobs for real people and pay real wages. The world would be a better place if they folded their tents and disappeared.

[luvin2fish]

Another good reason to not do business with this company. They ruin the local economy by selling cheap stuff that they virtually force their suppliers into making. Stay with the local guys - it may cost a few bucks more but they provide jobs for real people and pay real wages. The world would be a better place if they folded their tents and disappeared.

I love the cheap prices of their sinkers!

[Ufatz]

So okay.....I get it! You are going to convince people they should not buy decent, low end products at fair, very low competitive prices in clean, bright comfortable stores.

Let me know how that works out for you.

[JBMasterAngler]

As nice as it sounds to support the local guy, me personally I can't afford to. The cheap prices of places like target, walmart, fleet farm, etc allow me the extra money to be able to go fishing on weekly basis.

Also, it's possible walmart might wait until next spring to put in a fishing tackle section. Now that summer is over alot of places are taking out alot of the tackle and putting in the fall line up.

[Neighbor_guy]

Shotgun shells, licences, vitamins, oil, and dog food. For everything else, there is anywere else

[merkman]

Quote:

Walmart's Latest Move to Crush the Competition

By Sean Gregory / West Deptford, N.J. Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009

Time.com

Walmart loves to shock and awe. City-size stores, absurdly low prices ($8 jeans!) and everything from milk to Matchbox toys on its shelves. And with the recession forcing legions of stores into bankruptcy, the world's largest retailer now apparently wants to take out the remaining survivors.

Thus, the company is in the beginning stages of a massive store and strategy remodeling effort, which it has dubbed Project Impact. One goal of Project Impact is cleaner, less cluttered stores that will improve the shopping experience. Another is friendlier customer service. A third: home in on categories where the competition can be killed. "They've got Kmart ready to take a standing eight-count next year," says retail consultant Burt Flickinger III, managing director for Strategic Resources Group and a veteran Walmart watcher. "Same with Rite Aid. They've knocked out four of the top five toy retailers, and are now going after the last one standing, Toys "R" Us. Project Impact will be the catalyst to wipe out a second round of national and regional retailers."

Though that's bad news for many smaller businesses that can't compete, Walmart investors have clamored for this push. Despite the company's consistently strong financial performance, Wall Street hasn't cheered Walmart's growth rates. During the 1990s, the company's stock price jumped 1,173%. In this decade, it's down around 24% (Walmart's stock closed at $51.74 per share on Sept. 3). "Walmart is under excruciating pressure from employees and frustrated institutional investors to get the stock up," says Flickinger.

Many analysts believe that the store-operations background of new CEO Mike Duke will keep investors quite happy. Though the recession finally caught up to Walmart last quarter, when the company reported a 1.2% drop in U.S. same-store sales, Walmart was a consistent winner during the worst days of the financial crisis, as frugal consumers traded down. While most retailers are shutting down stores, Walmart has opened 52 Supercenters since Feb. 1. Joseph Feldman, retail analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, estimates that each store costs Walmart between $25 and $30 million. In order to continue the momentum that it has picked up during the retail recession, over the next five years the company plans to remodel 70% of its approximately 3,600 U.S. stores.

So what does a Project Impact store look like? One recent weekday afternoon I toured a brand new, 210,000-sq.-ft. Walmart in West Deptford, N.J., with Lance De La Rosa, the company's Northeast general manager. "We've listened to our customers, and they want an easier shopping experience," says De La Rosa. "We've brightened up the stores and opened things up to make it more navigable." One of the most noticeable changes is that Project Impact stores reshape Action Alley, the aisles where promotional items were pulled off the shelves and prominently displayed for shoppers. Those stacks both crowded the aisles and cut off sight lines. Now, the aisles are all clear, and you can see most sections of the store from any vantage point. For example, standing on the corner intersection of the auto-care and crafts areas, you can look straight ahead and see where shoes, pet care, groceries, the pharmacy and other areas are located. And the discount price tags are still at eye level, so the value message doesn't get lost.

"They are like roads," De La Rosa says proudly. "And look around, the customers are using them. We've already gotten feedback about the wider, more breathable aisles. Our shoppers love them."

The layout is also smarter. "You can kind of guess where everything is going to be," says Sharon Tilotta, 73, a shopper in the West Deptford store. The pharmacy, pet foods, cosmetics and health and beauty sections are now adjacent to the groceries. In the past, groceries and these other sections were often at opposite ends of the store, which made it more difficult for someone looking to pick up some quick consumables to get in and out of Walmart. "Under Project Impact, Walmart is providing more of a full supermarket experience within its walls," says Feldman. "The biggest complaint against them has always been that it takes a long time to get through everything. This definitely improves efficiency." De La Rosa also points out the party-supply section. Favors, wedding decorations, cards and scrapbooks are all in one area. "In the past, these products would be in three different places," he says.

And although Walmart won't admit to targeting specific competitors — "We're just listening to what our customers want," De La Rosa says — it's clear that, under Project Impact, Walmart will make major plays in winnable categories. The pharmacy, for example, has been pulled into the middle of the store, and its $4-prescriptions program has generated healthy buzz. With Circuit City out of business, the electronics section has been beefed up. Walmart is also expanding its presence in crafts. Sales at Michael's Stores, the country's largest specialty arts-and-crafts retailers, have sagged, and Walmart sees an opportunity. Stores are chock-full of scrapbooking material, baskets and yarns. "Look, they're selling the stuff that accounts for 80% of Michael's business, at 20% of the space," says Flickinger. "It's very hard for any company to compete with that."

Apparel, one of Target's traditional strengths, gets a prominent position at the center. The color palettes of the shirts and dresses are brighter and more appealing than they've been in the past. "Walmart has figured out fashion for the first time in 47 years," Flickinger says. "They've gone from a D to an A-minus." Briefs and underwear have been shuttled to the back. "That's a smart move," Flickinger says. "People know to come to Walmart for the commodity clothing. Now, they have to walk past the higher margin, more fashionable merchandise to get what they need."

Of course, Project Impact isn't perfect. You'd think that if Walmart was going to open a massive new store with a cutting-edge layout, the company would at least put a sign up. In West Deptford, it's easy to miss the entrance to the Walmart — which is buried in the back of a parking lot — while driving along a main thoroughfare. And of course, customers will always nitpick. One elderly shopper complained about a shortage of benches in the store (she needed a rest). Another had a more esoteric, yet legitimate, gripe. "Their meat is leaky," says Jeff Winter, 30, a West Deptford shopper. "And instead of giving you a wet wipe to clean it off, they give you a dry towel. How's that going to prevent E. coli or whatever?"

What analysts really want to see from Project Impact, however, is a faster pace of implementation. "The biggest hurdle facing Walmart is the speed with which they can roll this out," says Feldman. As more Project Impact stores pop up, the existing stores appear worse by comparison. For example, while the merchandise at the Project Impact store outside of Philadelphia really speaks to that particular market — there's tons of Eagles and Phillies gear — at one regular discount store outside New York City, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners pajama pants wasted away on the racks. There were plenty of associates staffing the electronics section at the Project Impact store; at the discount store, five frustrated shoppers waited in line for help from a customer-service rep. Soon, it was closer to 10.

What about the friendly service? In West Deptford, the associates were sunny and bright. At the New York–area discount store, not so much. "You'll notice we've been in the store for two hours, and no one has even said hello to us," Flickinger says after he and I toured that store. He's right, we weren't feeling any love. But if Project Impact keeps picking up momentum, many more Walmart salespeople, and shareholders, should be smiling.

[mainbutter]

I love the wal-mart I go to in anchorage(I'm currently visiting family here). They have a fantastic fishing department, and have everything from cheapie $30 rod/reel combos and a great selection of stream salmon lures to expensive big game penn reels and plenty of gear for deep sea halibut fishing.

I'm pretty happy because we went to the wal-mart to get the cheapest fishing equipment possible for some salmon fishing. Those rods and reels have stood up to two full salmon seasons now, put over 200lbs of fillets in the freezer, and caught many big fish, and just WORK, despite being dropped in the mud and sand and submerged in water etc.

There is no reason for us to go anywhere else to pick up fishing equipment in anchorage.

[PierBridge]

I know there are much better options for me as far as getting my fishing and hunting needs.

My disappointment is I now have no where to go between the hours of 930 PM and 2 AM ...

It was like late night therapy for me to be able to walk the isles looking at a bunch of stuff I didn't really need and pick up an occasional modestly priced crank-bait or headlamp while hoping for some killer close out deal on other crappola!

Speaking of Stuf it ways always a nice bonus to pick up some Double Stufs for $2.50 while I was wondering aimlessly late night...

[harvey lee]

Yep, and a loss of good jobs for jobs that don't pay much at all.

I hope this is not the direction or country is heading.

Wally world will continue to build bigger and more new stores and the smaller mom & pop stores with the great customer service will not survive.

I don't know if that is all good for the consumer and what happens when they have total control of that market?

[OnAFly]

harvey lee - I completely agree. I refuse to support them for all of those reasons. I don't care if I have to pay a dollar more. WM is pretty much the definition of the phrase, "evil corporation."